Playing-ball.



PATENTBD MAY '5', 1903.

F. H. RICHARDS.

PLAYING BALL.

APPLIGATION FILED 0c'1.6, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

Tun nanms Pumas cu, wow-mum, WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNiTs mess "l Patented May 5, 1903.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE KEMPSI-IALL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PLAYING-BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,201, dated May 5, 1903.

Application filed October 6, 1902;

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RIOHARDs,a

citizen of the United States, residing atHartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Playing Balls,' of which the following is a specification, I

This invention, relating to playing-balls,

and especially to those adapted for the purso pose of golf, has for its object to-improve the shell or cover of the ball, thereby giving to the entire structure the requisite qualities of putting, approach, and long drive.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which v j Figure 1 illustrates the ball, partly brokeriaway, disclosing its construction, and Fig. 2 shows a segment of the shell construction.

Throughout the figures similar characters of reference indicate like parts.

The main feature of this invention is embodied in the shell A, which, in the present instance, comprises an outer casing 1 on the" inner casing 2, preferably formed of celluloid. Intervening said casings 1 and 2 is a layer 3, formed by granulating cork, mixing it with a celluloid solution, collodion, or a derivative of pyroxylin a in a fluent condition. This material after hardening is stiff, hard, and springy and has other qualities whereby it is well adapted to form a filling between said casings for the purpose of securing a materially-increased stability without entirely overcomingfiexibility. Moreover, thisfilling can be made at such a low cost as to eifect a material reduction in the expense of making a ball.

The celluloid of the casings 1 and 2 becomes incorporated or united with the celluloid or pyroxylin a in the layer 3, thus minimizing the liability of separation of the casings from said layer and the layer in practice forms an excellent backing for the celluloid, minimizing the liability of the latter to crack and rendering the ball highly efficient in driving and putting.

In forming the layer the compressible core $eria1 No. 126,019 (No model.)

and celluloid mixture is preferably hardened under pressure and heat, the pressure being maintained while the hardening of the layer substance takes place, so that the cork and 'collodion or pyroxylin with which it is mixed --found to be excellent for-putting.

It will be further understood that the pyroxylin in the layer is in the form of a continuous irregular honeycomb or agglomeration of cells and is hence quite stifi and resisting, especially since it is backed by the particles of compressed cork, and conduces to the playing qualities of the ball.

In using the term cork or granulated cork I mean to include all substances there for-such, for instance, as sawdust.

The shell A in the present instance surrounds a plastic filling B-such as soft rubber, preferably molded rubberand this sphere in the present instance in closes a small center piece 0 of any suitable material. It is understood, however, that various forms of fillings may be employed Within the scope of this invention and that modifications may be resorted to with respect to the shell.

It will be seen that the ball comprises two separating casings or shells 1 2 of plastic material, the space between which is occupied. by a composition, one of whose components is of similar plastic material and unites with said shells, thereby forming. a substantial three-layer shell or cover, which is both highly efficient and also well adapted to withstand the punishment received in a game of golf, especially when celluloid or a derivative of pyroxylin is employed for the outer shell. It

will also be noted that this composition shell comprises a structure of phenomenal resilience and stability, which effects an immediate recovery from distortion due to impact.

Variations of structure and materials may be resorted to Within the scope of this invention.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. Aplaying-ballcomprisingaspringycore, a shell thereon of hard plastic material, an outer shell of similar material, and a layer uniting said shells and consisting of similar material incorporated with granulated springy substance. I

2. Aplaying-ballcomprisingaspringycore, a shell thereon of hard plastic material, an outer shell of similar material, and a layer uniting said shells and consisting of similar material incorporated with granulated cork.

3. Aplaying-hallcomprisingaspringycore, a shell thereon of hard plastic material, an outer shell of similar material, and a layer uniting said shells and consisting of similar material incorporated with springy granulated substance which is held under compression.

4. Aplaying-ballcomprisingaspringycore, a shell thereon of hard plastic material, an outer shell of similar material, and a layer uniting-said shells and consisting of similar material incorporated with granulated cork held under compression.

5. Aplaying-ballcomprisingaspringycore, a shell thereon of hard plastic material, an outer shell of similar material, and a layer uniting said shells and consisting of granulated springy material incorporated with pyroxylin and held under compression, the pyroxylin uniting with the material of said shells.

6. A playing-ball com prising-a plurality of shells of plastic material and an intervening layer uniting said shells and consisting of similar plastic material incorporated with springy granulated material, the latter being held under compression.

7. A playing-ball comprising aplurality of shells of plastic material and an intervening layer uniting said shells and consisting of similar plastic material incorporated with granulated cork, the latter being held under compression.

8. A playing-ball comprising a plurality of shells of celluloid and an intervening layer uniting said shells and consisting ofsimilar plastic material incorporated with springy granulated material.

9. A playing-ball having a cover com prising an inner and outer casing of celluloid and an intervening layer consisting of granulated cork incorporated with pyroxylin and uniting said casing, and a filling held under compression by said cover.

10. A playing-ball having a shell comprising an inner and outer celluloid casing, an intervening layer consisting of granulated cork incorporated with pyroxylin, and a sphere of soft rubber inclosed by said shell.

11. A playing-ball comprisinga plurality of spheres of similar plastic material united by a layer of-similar plastic material incorporated With cork,the cork being held under compression.

12. A playing-ball comprising a core and plurality of spheres thereon of plastic material united by a layer of similar plastic material incorporated withcork, the cork being held under compression.

13. A playing-ball comprising a core and a plurality of spheres thereon of plastic material separated by a layer of similar plastic material incorporated With compressed cork; said cork being held under compression.

14. A 'playingball comprising a center piece, a layer of soft rubber thereon, a shell of celluloid upon said soft rubber, a layer of cork and pyroxylin upon said celluloid, and a cover of celluloid; said cork being held under compression.

15. A playing-ball comprising layers of celluloid, an intervening layer of granulated cork incorporated with pyroxy lin, said cellu loid layers being united to said intervening layer, and a springy core filling the inner of said celluloid layers.

16. A playing-ball comprising spheres of celluloid between which is confined a layer of granulated cork incorporated with pyroxylin, said celluloid layers being united to said confined layer.

17. A playing-ball comprising a plurality of spheres of celluloid and a composition of granulated cork incorporated with pyroxylin uniting said spheres.

Signed at Nos. 9 to 15 Murray street, in the city and State of New York.

FRANCIS I-I. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

F. W. BARNACLO, FRED. J. DOLE. 

